But will he be back to try to capture the coveted trophy in 2019? We'll have to wait and see.

Murray has reiterated several times in the past few weeks his intention to join the Oakland Athletics at the conclusion of this season as the team's most recent first-round draft pick. If that happens, Archie Griffin's record will remain secure — once again, we won't have a back-to-back Heisman Trophy winner.

Early handicapping of the 2019 race will instead focus on this year's runner-up, Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who has at least one more season of eligibility before potentially entering the NFL draft. A true sophomore, Tagovailoa was nearly the wire-to-wire Heisman winner before Murray took the lead with a furious close to the regular season.

Any attempt to predict how next year's Heisman chase may unfold has to begin with Tagovailoa, who put together a flawless first season as the Tide's starter before an injury-marred stumble in the SEC championship game win against Georgia. But there are others in early contention from across the Power Five and Group of Five conferences, some already on the radar and others set to explode onto the national scene.

With Murray's win still fresh, here's an early glance at next year's Heisman odds.

(This list presumes that several underclassmen will declare for the NFL draft, such as Memphis running back Darrell Henderson and Oklahoma wide receiver Marquis Brown.)

1. Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa

He'll be in the driver's seat throughout the offseason as the face of college football, though it remains to be seen if there will be an almost inevitable backlash to the attention heaved in Tagovailoa's direction — for example, remember how Tim Tebow's game was picked apart in his final two seasons at Florida. But Tagovailoa will also be even better as a junior, with more patience as a passer and an even greater sense of awareness in the pocket thanks to this year's experience. It's hard, if not impossible, to make a case for any other player in the country to top this early list.

2. Ohio State QB Dwayne Haskins

A redshirt sophomore, Haskins may very well opt for the NFL rather than returning to Ohio State and new head coach Ryan Day. The benefits of returning to Columbus are simple: Haskins can add more experience to his resume and chair a team set to once again contend for the national championship. If he does come back, Haskins will almost undoubtedly exceed even this year's lofty passing totals and become the most prolific quarterback in program history — and that's the stuff Heisman legacies are made of.

3. Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence

The potential is obvious. Lawrence threw for 24 touchdowns during the regular season after replacing incumbent starter Kelly Bryant in late September, showing off arm strength and intelligence that speak to his five-star billing yet belie his age and relative inexperience. It's a safe bet to have him in the top three, but Lawrence could even give Tagovailoa an early run for the lead should he lead Clemson to another national title.

4. Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor

Taylor is steadily putting together the greatest career by a running back in Bowl Subdivision history. After running for a freshman-record 1,977 yards a year ago, Taylor enters the Badgers' bowl game at 1,989 yards on a tidy 7.1 yards per carry. These numbers will at some point be impossible for voters to ignore, though Taylor does need to continue working on protecting the football. An issue this fall was Wisconsin's inability to factor into the championship race.

5. Clemson RB Travis Etienne

One of the breakout stars of the 2018 season, Etienne's 1,463 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns paved the way for Clemson's latest berth in the College Football Playoff after an early quarterback change. The numbers are electric and so are the individual moments: Etienne has flashed a taste for the big play, as shown in his 8.3 yards-per-carry average and six games of 150 or more rushing yards.

Clemson running back Travis Etienne carries the ball during the first half against Louisville(Photo: Joshua S. Kelly, USA TODAY Sports)

6. Georgia's starting QB

Maybe it's a cop-out to not go ahead and slot in Jake Fromm, who was wildly overshadowed by Tagovailoa, Murray and Haskins during the regular season yet put together a strong follow-up to his successful freshman campaign. But you never know: Georgia could flip its offensive mindset and go with sophomore-to-be Justin Fields in an effort to be more dynamic under center. Either way — and it would be very hard to unseat a two-year starter with Fromm's resume — Georgia's starting quarterback is going to be in the thick of the Heisman conversation.

7. Nebraska QB Adrian Martinez

Here's a name to watch coming out of the Big Ten, as the latest Scott Frost quarterbacking pupil to put up crooked numbers and set school records at the helm of a high-powered offense. As a true freshman in 2018, Martinez threw for 2,617 yards with 17 touchdowns with another 629 rushing yards despite missing all of one game and being physically limited in several others with a knee injury. As seen during his coaching career, Frost's quarterbacks explode as second-year starters. Martinez will be no exception.

8. Oregon QB Justin Herbert

That Herbert will draw eyeballs due to his status as the top quarterback on most NFL teams' draft boards should help his Heisman stock, raising his profile for those voters who tuck themselves in long before the end of Pac-12 play on Sunday mornings. He'll have to stay healthy and lead the Ducks into Rose Bowl contention, but Herbert has the ability, numbers and backstory to be a Heisman darling.

9. Purdue WR Rondale Moore

Moore led all FBS receivers during the regular season with 103 receptions, but his impact didn't stop there. As a true freshman, he added 203 yards on the ground at 11.3 yards per carry and exceed 2,000 yards of total offense as the centerpiece of Jeff Brohm's offense. Perhaps college football's most exciting player in the open field, Moore will be even more dynamic with another year of experience and a full offseason to add size and weight to his frame.

10. Central Florida QB McKenzie Milton

Milton's late-season injury has his availability in doubt until future notice, robbing not just the Knights of their unquestioned leader but college football of one of its brightest stars. If he makes a full recovery, Milton will soar up this list — if not battling his knee injury, Milton would have an extremely strong case to be second behind Tagovailoa. For now, however, the rising junior's indefinite absence makes him a wild card in the Heisman race.